A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to accept Jimoh Ibrahim, as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

Jimoh Ibrahim is the candidate selected by the Ali Modu-Sheriff led faction of the party.

In his ruling, the Judge, Justice Okon Abnag ordered that Ibrahim replace Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate selected by the Markafi faction of the party.

He ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must relate with Ali Modu Sherrif faction of the party.

The ruling is expected to create further division in the party.

The Peoples Democratic Party has been engulfed in a leadership crisis since it was removed from power in 2015.

Counter court rulings have since declared former Borno state Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and former Adamawa State Governor Ahmed Markafi the party’s authentic chairman.

The party has also cancelled two National Conventions due to the crisis.

At the last botched convention in August, party leaders resolved to extend the tenure of the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee for one year.

However Sheriff in his response slammed the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the PDP, which extended the tenure of the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee by one year.

He described the meeting as a “huge joke.”

He said the groups asked their members to remain calm and refrain from actions and utterances that could further bring about division and dispute in the party.

Last month, both men held meeting where they agreed to work together to end the crisis in the part. (TV360 Nigeria)

•Photo shows Jimoh Ibrahim.